A Finite Element model was developed in order to study the behavior of beams with sinusoidal webs, subjected to Lateral Torsion Buckling, taking into account residual stresses and initial imperfections. The numerical model was validated by comparison with four experimental tests. To start the analysis of the model, a linear buckling analysis is made to find the first eigenvalue and the correspondent buckling mode. The next step is to assign the buckling mode to the geometrical model and the initial imperfection to the maximum mode displacement. Then an incremental plastic analysis is done, taking into account large deflections, until the model is unable to take on any other load increments due to physical or geometrical degeneration. Comparisons between numerical and experimental results are included. Comparisons between the results of eight numerical analyses and the correspondent provisions of a procedure based on the Brazilian code NBR 8800 (1986) are also included. For these eight comparisons 6 models were chosen to reach instability in the inelastic range and 2 in the elastic range. The sinusoidal web was ignored for the calculation of the geometrical properties.
Lateral-torsional buckling; sinusoidally-corrugated web beams; experimental and numerical analyses
